Skiers and riders who venture into steep wind loaded avalanche starting zones could trigger dense slab avalanches today. Larger, persistent slabs could also be triggered especially if heavier loads such as groups of people or snow machines are present. Carefully evaluate terrain and the snowpack. At the lower elevations (below an elevation of 7,500 feet) small pockets of wind slab lie upon a base of weak faceted snow and could be triggered by humans on isolated terrain features.
The weight of a single person could trigger a dense slab avalanche up to two feet in depth on a weak layer of buried surface hoar. The sensitivity of these slabs to human triggers may increase as the day warms. Some potential may remain for skiers and riders to trigger deeper persistent slab avalanches with depths to three feet on a layer of faceted snow that is lower in the snowpack.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High elevation snow flurries will diminish overnight as cloud cover decreases. Skies will be partially clear in the morning and increasing cloudy during the day. Temperatures will fall into the teens overnight and rise into the 30s during the day. Westerly winds will relax from 20 to 15 miles per hour and back to the southwest.At the mid and upper elevations skiers and riders could trigger dense surface slabs 6 to 24 inches deep. Deeper slabs to 3 feet in depth could also be triggered by the weight of a person or from the release of a surface slab. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 7,500 feet except on isolated terrain features. Carefully evaluate terrain and the snowpack.
